Operation Mistral 2

Operation Maestral 2
Part of the Bosnian War
Jajce Šipovo Drvar Glamoč Donji Vakuf Bosansko Grahovo Bosanski Petrovac Bihać Kulen Vakuf Mlinište Banja Luka Sarajevo Objectives of Operation Maestral 2 () on the map of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Date 8–15 September 1995 Location Western Bosnia and Herzegovina Result Croatian Army and Croatian Defence Council victory Towns of Jajce, Drvar and Šipovo captured
Belligerents
Croatian Army Croatian Defence Council	Army of Republika Srpska
Commanders and leaders
Ante Gotovina Željko Glasnović Ante Kotromanović Mladen Fuzul	Radivoje Tomanić Momir Zec
Strength
6 Guards brigades 3 reserve brigades 6 Home Guard regiments 2 Guards battalions	1 motorised brigade 5 infantry brigades 1 armoured battalion
Casualties and losses
74 killed 226 wounded	Unknown
Serb civilian casualties: 655 civilians killed and 40,000–125,000 displaced (Serb claim) 20,000 civilians displaced (UN claim)

Croatian Army and Croatian Defence Council victory

Operation Mistral 2, officially codenamed Operation Maestral 2, was a Croatian Army (Hrvatska vojska – HV) and Croatian Defence Council (Hrvatsko vijeće obrane – HVO) offensive in western Bosnia and Herzegovina on 8–15 September 1995 as part of the Bosnian War. Its objective was to create a security buffer between Croatia and positions held by the Bosnian Serb Army of Republika Srpska (Vojska Republike Srpske – VRS) and to put the largest Bosnian Serb-held city, Banja Luka, in jeopardy by capturing the towns of Jajce, Šipovo and Drvar. The combined HV and HVO forces were under the overall command of HV Major General Ante Gotovina.

The operation commenced during a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) air campaign against the VRS codenamed Operation Deliberate Force, targeting VRS air defences, artillery positions and storage facilities largely in the area of Sarajevo, but also elsewhere in the country. Days after commencement of the offensive, the VRS positions to the right and to the left of the HV and the HVO advance were also attacked by the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Armija Republike Bosne i Hercegovine – ARBiH) in Operation Sana. The offensive achieved its objectives and set the stage for further advances of the HV, HVO and ARBiH towards Banja Luka, contributing to the resolution of the war.